NITP Warns Resident Against Building Without Approvals

• Task FG on flood management in nations capital

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners {NITP) Tuesday urged the Federal -Government to take proactive measures to curtail flooding in the country, particularly the nation’s capital, Abuja,

Speaking at the Institute town hall meeting in Abuja, the National
President, NITP, Mr. Nathaniel Atebije, stated that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) needs to take decisive measures on disaster preparedness and management.

He opined that the territory was back to another regime of flooding, noting: “The flooding which ensued yesterday as a result of the downpour was speculated to have drowned some lives in a popular residential estate in Abuja. Poor
drainage systems have made the location flood-prone and vulnerable during the rainy season.”

Atebije, explained that actions designed to solve the problem are impeded by court orders at the expense of human lives. “What value do we place on human lives as a nation? Can the value of that whole estate be equated to the lives
lost? We hereby call on judges to consider safety of human lives when
granting orders to retain inconsistent developments.”

The President further said: ” This is an indicator of the need for continuous engagement with the various stakeholders in human settlements development. No one can give what he does not have. For judges, and anyone for that matter to take decisions that are
favorable to environmental sustainability, they must be enlightened about physical planning and human settlements development”.

Similarly, the Chairperson of NITP, FCT Chapter, Mrs. Lami Ayuba, warned against building of houses without following due processes.

Ayuba, in her welcome address said, “we now have a city where some residents are ignorant of these regulations, and this is why a person will just acquire a plot, build and inhabit without approval, this is why people locate uncomplimentary actives adjoining each other, this is why some developers occupy a piece of land, fence it and sell it to unsuspecting public.”

Speaking further, she said: :This is why people just build along or within public spaces affecting the livability of urban spaces. Consequently, Abuja has now become a city with so many litigations on land matters, land use
contraventions, flooding and informal settlement.

“While town planners try their best to ensure compliance to established standards, they are limited by insufficient funds, under staffing, inconsistent policies, poor working tools and remuneration, others factors include slow nonexistence infrastructural development in regional areas and emerging slum.

“Today’s advocacy will avail us the opportunity to enlighten the
general public on town planning principles on one hand, and get
feedback from the public to birth a livable and sustainable city for
all,” Ayuba stated.

A participant, Ayange William of Kugbo Landlord Association commended
the NITP for organizing the meeting to educate the public on issues
that are affecting the environment.

He called on government to bring infrastructures such as the drainage
system and access to the Kugbo community.